Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - Taking the Charge - #8434

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

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My friend Joanne seems like an unlikely candidate to be working with women in prison. She dresses fashionably, she lives well, moves comfortably among the upscale folks in her community. But something happened to her heart as she traveled with our Native American team as a cook, seeing the need on reservation after reservation. God called her to a ministry of her own, and she’s making a great impact on women whose lives couldn’t be more different from hers.

She told me recently that she’s learning to explain what Jesus has done for us in words that female prisoners can relate to. I guess there are times when a person is about to be charged with something like drug possession or a driving offense, and a friend will position themselves to look like they’re the guilty one so their friend can get off. They call that “taking the charge.”

I’m Ron Hutchcraft. and my friend has started telling these women in prison that’s what Jesus did for us—He “took our charge.” And often, that realization brings tears to their eyes. It should move all of us. Because, according to the Bible, we’re all guilty before God of breaking His laws; of hijacking our lives from Him to run them ourselves.

But Jesus loves you so much He didn’t want to lose you. So the sinless Son of God took on all the guilt and all the hell of all your sin and mine. In the Bible’s words, “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him” (Isaiah 53:5 ).

What you do with Jesus will literally decide your eternal destination, because He took your charge. Do you want to respond to that love and belong to Him? Would you visit our website? It’s ALifeThatMatters.org.

This radio program references: Isaiah 53:5